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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and took over 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the investigation could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire broke out. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was among a group calling for an separate review into the blaze. An online petition amassed over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, per press accounts.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be older than 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file claimed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 attendees perished.